London midday: Stocks erase gains as ongoing Greek debt saga hits sentiment
21st Apr 2015 11:28
After briefly coming close to their intraday record high, UK stocks dropped into the red by Tuesday lunchtime after data showed that the Greek debt saga was weighing on economic confidence in Germany. Heavy falls in the mining sector were also hitting markets, offsetting well-received quarterly earn
Read moreKingfisher cut to 'sell' as Investec sees no sign of near-term pick-up
21st Apr 2015 10:41
Kingfisher has been lowered from 'hold' to 'sell' by Investec, with the South African bank saying it sees no sign of a recovery at the DIY retailer any time soon. The B&Q and Wickes owner has "always been a business full of opportunities and challenges", Investec said. "Describing 'ONE' Kingfisher
Read moreKingfisher forecasts slashed and rating downgraded to 'sell' by SocGen
10th Apr 2015 12:44
UK retailer Kingfisher had its rating whacked down to 'sell' from 'hold' by Societe Generale on Friday after it cut the B&Q owner's forecasts due to currency swings and took a dim view of the company's outlook. The French investment bank makes its downgrade on Kingfisher, who owns UK retailer B&Q, a
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: M&S surges on growth, miners lower
2nd Apr 2015 14:54
Marks & Spencer topped the risers as it delivered its first growth from clothing and general merchandise (GM) for 14 quarters, with like-for-like sales unexpectedly rising 0.7% in both clothing and food. The market had been expecting GM sales to fall and food to be flattish. Imperial Tobacco continu
Read moreLondon close: Stocks come off intraday highs as US data disappoints
1st Apr 2015 16:37
UK stocks trimmed earlier gains by the close after a weak start on Wall Street, but still managed to finish in the green as markets bounced slightly following a sell-off the previous session. London's FTSE 100 finished the session up 36.46 points, or 0.54%, at 6,809.50. The index had dropped 1.7% to
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Shell boosted by Alaskan exploration approval, banks higher
1st Apr 2015 13:19
Oil major Shell was making gains after being given the green light by the US government to restart an exploration campaign in the Alaskan Arctic. Imperial Tobacco rebounded from Tuesday's losses, which were driven by concerns that the Lorrillard-Reynolds merger will fall apart. Banks such as Barcla
Read moreLondon close: FTSE plunges 1.7% as investors take profits ahead of quarter-end
31st Mar 2015 16:31
Sharp falls from mining and tobacco stocks sent the FTSE 100 to its lowest close in two and a half weeks on Tuesday as investors used some weak economic data as an excuse to rebalance their books before the quarter-end. After briefly trading in the green early on, the Footsie finished had plunged 1.
Read moreSector movers: Tobacco, oil & gas and mining drag FTSE 100 into the red
31st Mar 2015 13:39
Tobacco, oil & gas and mining stocks knocked the FTSE 100 down on a day of few positives over the course of Tuesday's trading in London. At 16:25, the FTSE 100 was trading down 93.98 or 1.36% at 6797.45 with tobacco stocks taking the biggest knock of the day. The decline arrived early on during the
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Kingfisher surges on store closures, tobacco stocks lower
31st Mar 2015 13:22
DIY retailer Kingfisher soared as it impressed investors with plans to close 60 stores, as new chief executive Véronique Laury announced full-year results and set out her plans for a "very different" company. The company announced a £200m cash return for the coming financial year as it revealed adju
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE drops sharply to two-week low at quarter-end
31st Mar 2015 12:11
After a brief stint in positive territory, UK stocks dropped sharply into the red by Tuesday lunchtime as concerns about the Eurozone outweighed upbeat data closer to home. London's FTSE 100, which rose initially to a high of 6,910.07, had sunk over 1% to 6,819.82 by midday. The index has not closed
Read moreBroker tips: Kingfisher, Antofagasta, Meggitt, Petrofac
31st Mar 2015 11:40
Analysts were largely very impressed by the strategic vision nailed to the wall by Kingfisher's new chief executive Véronique Laury as she lifted the lid on some less impressive full-year numbers. Brewin Dolphin's Nicla Di Palma said the new strategy makes sense, with the new focus on capital discip
Read moreAnalysts hail Kingfisher's new strategic vision under Veronique Laury
31st Mar 2015 10:45
Analysts were largely very impressed by the strategic vision nailed to the wall by Kingfisher's new chief executive Véronique Laury as she lifted the lid on some less impressive full-year numbers. Almost four months after starting work, Laury had a seemingly difficult week after on Monday she called
Read moreLondon open: Stocks inch higher, but gains limited early on
31st Mar 2015 09:14
UK stocks edged higher on Tuesday morning ahead of a busy day for economic data, with B&Q owner Kingfisher leading the rise early on. The FTSE 100 was up 0.1% at 6,896.06, extending gains after snapping a four-day losing streak on Monday. Asian stocks rose on Tuesday after Beijing unveiled new meas
Read moreLondon pre-open: Slightly lower open expected ahead of data
31st Mar 2015 07:47
UK stocks were expected to open slightly lower on Tuesday morning ahead of a raft of economic data, with investors treading cautiously on the last day of the first quarter. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open just five points lower than Monday's close of 6,891.43. "Quarter end can bring abo
Read moreKingfisher reveals stores closures and £200m cash return
31st Mar 2015 07:14
The day after its acquisition of French chain Mr Bricolage collapsed like a ill-fitted shelf, do-it-yourself group Kingfisher said it would close 60 stores as new chief executive Véronique Laury announced full year results and set out her plans for a "very different" company. The company, which also
Read more